A simple function was organised at the Jawaharlal Nehru State Museum here where members of APLS offered floral tribute at the portrait of Dr Hazarika who, through various songs commemorating the strong bond between Assam and Arunachal.

State Trade and Commerce Director Tokong Pertin chairing the meeting recalled his encounter with the renowned singer and said that Dr Hazarika was born at Bolung Village in Lower Dibang Valley district in the state, a place near present Shantipur of Sadiya sub-division in Assam.

Dr Hazarika disclosed in his autobiography how Adi girls from Bolung village used to come and take him out for playing when he was nine months old and even one night he had to stay with them and the ladies of the village had to breast feed him, Pertin said.

The singer has immortalised the mountains, hills, rivers and the people of Arunachal with his songs, Pertin said and lamented that he could not fulfil Dr Hazarika?s wish to meet the Adi mothers of Bolung village.

Pertin said that the APLS was instrumental in bringing an urn of Hazarika's ash and immersing in all major rivers in the state.

State Research department expert Dr S Ghosh said that the state government has already constructed a huge statue of the legendary singer which would be installed at Bolung village within a few months.